Expatriates began selling mobile phones and accessories on the street after strict regulations were enforced to Saudize the telecommunication sector, Al-Eqtisadiyah reported on Saturday. Authorities started inspection campaigns to ensure 50 percent Saudization of the sector by the end of Ramadan. "Any violating stores can face a fine and temporary or permanent shutdown. The decision has caused many mobile stores to run out of business," said a mobile phone seller. He said that many Saudis refuse to work as shopkeepers and salespersons because of the low wages, forcing many stores to shut down. Now many store owners are selling on the street whatever left of their merchandises. A source said the municipality carried out 2,211 visits to different mobile stores in various parts of the Kingdom during the first three days of Ramadan. Labor and Social Development Inspection and Environmental Development Deputy Minister Fahd Al-Uwaidi said a total of 493 establishments were visited by inspectors in the Eastern Province, 421 in Riyadh, 324 in Qassim, 233 in Asir, 189 in Makkah and 183 in Madinah. Inspections were also carried out in Hail, Tabuk, Baha, the Northern Borders, Jouf and Jazan. Some 1,919 shops and stores were found to be complying with the new regulations, said Al-Uwaidi. A total of 553 violations were recorded.
